The Effect of Sexuality and Monogamy on Sexual Permissiveness and Relationship Infidelity

I am conducting a research project for my psychology class. Since my primary research interests include sexuality and interpersonal relationships, I am investigating the influence of sexuality and monogamy on perceptions of infidelity and sexual permissiveness. This survey should take no longer than 30 minutes, but take as much time as you need. There are no predicted risks or discomforts to participation in my study and your participation is completely voluntary. Below is the consent agreement. Christine Jones, of the Towson University Psychology Department is conducting a study aimed to better understand perceptions of infidelity and sexual permissiveness. The purpose of this study is to better understand the correlation between the aforementioned variables in relation to subjects’ sexuality and declaration of exclusivity in a current relationship or previous relationships. Your role in this experiment will be to answer questions presented in the form of three surveys, which should take no more than 1 hour of your time. We ask that you answer each question as honestly as possible. If there is a question that you feel uncomfortable asking, you may leave it blank. There are no known risks or discomforts to participation in this study. Please do not type your name on the surveys. There will be no way to link your name to your survey responses. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may withdraw your consent and/or participation at any time during this experiment without prejudice. Although descriptions and findings may be published, at no time will your name be used. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Christine Jones at 410-708-1952, the primary researcher, Dr. Jan Sinnott at 410-704-2184, the faculty advisor for this study, or Dr. Patricia Alt, Chairperson of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Participants at Towson University at 410-704-2236. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN PARTICIPANTS AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY (410-704-2236)

1. After reading the above statement, do you give your consent to participate in this study? (Required)

I affirm that I have read and understood the above statement and have had all of my questions answered    No, I do not give my consent to participate in this study.

2. How would you identify your gender?

Male    Female    Other

3. What is your age?

18-25    26-33    33-40    40-47    Other

4. What is your ethnicity?

White/Caucasian    African American    Asian American    American Indian/Native American    Mexican American    Other

The Sexual Attitudes Scale Please respond to the following questions in relation to yourself. If you answer yes, it means that you support the statement. If you answer no, it means you do not support the statement.

5. I do not need to be committed in a relationship to a person to have sex with him/her.

Yes    No

6. Casual sex is acceptable.

Yes    No

7. I would like to have sex with many partners.

Yes    No

8. One night stands can be very enjoyable.

Yes    No

9. It is okay to have ongoing sexual relationships with more than one person at a time.

Yes    No

10. Sex as a simple exchange of favors is okay if both people agree to it.

Yes    No

11. The best sex occurs with no strings attached.

Yes    No

12. Sex for its own sake is perfectly fine.

Yes    No

13. I would feel comfortable having intercourse with my partner in the presence of other people.

Yes    No

14. Sex without love is meaningless.

Yes    No

15. People should at least be friends before they have sex together.

Yes    No

16. In order for sex to be good, it must also be meaningful.

Yes    No

17. A sexual encounter between two people deeply in love is the ultimate human interaction.

Yes    No

18. Sexual techniques get better as a relationship progresses. (Sex gets better as the relationship progresses.)

Yes    No

19. Sex is the closest form of communication between two people.

Yes    No

20. Orgasm is the greatest experience in the world.

Yes    No

21. Life without sex would be very dull. (Sex is a very important part of life.)

Yes    No

22. Please insert here any comments or questions you have about the above section of questions.

The following questions are pertaining to your relationship history. These questions are mandatory.

23. Are you currently involved in a relationship? (Required)

Yes    No    Other

24. Have you ever been involved in a relationship? (Required)

Yes    No    Other

If you are not currently in a relationship, please skip to question 31.

25. Has sexual intercourse occured between you and your partner or partners? If you have multiple partners, please describe your answer in the space below.

Yes    No    Other

26. Are you satisfied with your sex life?

Yes    No    Other

27. Are you currently in love?

Yes    No    Other

28. Are you currently in love with multiple people?

Yes    No    Other

29. How would you classify your currently relationship?

Monogamous/exclusive (one partner)    Polyamorous/open (2+ partners)    Other

30. What is your marital status?

Married    Single    Other

31. Have you ever had pre-marital sexual activity (this includes sexual intercourse, as well as oral sex, anal sex, and fingering/petting)?

Yes    No

Infidelity The following questions are in reference to activities performed outside of your current primary relationship if you are currently in a relationship or in reference to activities performed out of your last relationship if you are not currently in a relationship. Please check all that apply.

32. Outside of your current primary relationship, have you ever:

Kissed a member of the same sex    Kissed a member of the opposite sex    Had sexual intercourse with a member of the same sex    Had sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex    Performed oral sex on a member of the same sex    Performed oral sex on a member of the opposite sex    Received oral sex from a member of the same sex    Received oral sex from a member of the opposite sex    Received a hand job/been fingered from/by a member of the same sex    Received a hand job/been fingered from/by a member of the opposite sex    Given a hand job/fingering to a member of the same sex    Given a hand job/fingering to a member of the opposite sex    Been romantically/emotionally involved with a member of the same sex    Been romantically/emotionally involved with a member of the opposite sex    Other

33. Does the person/ the people you're involved with know what your responses would be to the aforementioned questions?

Yes, to all    Yes, to some    No    Other

34. Would you consider anything done outside a relationship as cheating? If so, what? Please type your answer in the other box. (Required)

Yes    No    Other

The following questions will ask you to describe your sexual preference and identity. Please select only one option that describes you best.

35. How would you describe your sexual attraction. Who are you sexually attracted to?

Opposite sex only    Opposite sex mostly    Opposite sex somewhat more    Both sexes equally    Same sex somewhat more    Same sex mostly    Same sex only    Other

36. With whom do you have sex?

Opposite sex only    Opposite sex mostly    Opposite sex somewhat more    Both sexes equally    Same sex somewhat more    Same sex mostly    Same sex only    Other

37. The third variable is sexual fantasy. Whether they occur during masturbation, while daydreaming, as part of our real lives or purely in our imaginations, fantasies provide insight. Who do you have sexual fantasies about?

Opposite sex only    Opposite sex mostly    Opposite sex somewhat more    Both sexes equally    Same sex somewhat more    Same sex mostly    Same sex only    Other

38. Our emotions directly influence, if not define, the actual physical act of love. Ask yourself if you love and like only the opposite sex or if you are also emotionally close to the same sex. Who are you emotionally attracted to?

Opposite sex only    Opposite sex mostly    Opposite sex somewhat more    Both sexes equally    Same sex somewhat more    Same sex mostly    Same sex only    Other

39. Though closely allied to emotional preference, social preference is often different. You may love only women but spend most of your social life with men. Some people, of all orientations, only socialize with their own sex, while others socialize with the opposite gender exclusively. Who do you socialize with?

Opposite sex only    Opposite sex mostly    Opposite sex somewhat more    Both sexes equally    Same sex somewhat more    Same sex mostly    Same sex only    Other

40. Your sexual self-definition is a strong variable since self-image strongly affects our thoughts and actions. How would you identify youself?

Heterosexual only    Heterosexual mostly    Heterosexual somewhat more    Bisexual    Gay somewhat more    Gay mostly    Gay only    Other

41. Some heterosexuals only have sex with the opposite sex but prefer to spend the majority of their time with gay people. On the other hand, homosexual or bisexual persons may prefer to live exclusively in the gay world, the heterosexual world, or even to live in both worlds. Lifestyle is the seventh variable of sexual orientation. Where do you tend to spend time and with whom?

Heterosexual only    Heterosexual mostly    Heterosexual somewhat more    Bisexual    Gay somewhat more    Gay mostly    Gay only    Other

42. Your feedback is very important. Please fill in the comment box below if you have any suggestions or constructive criticism. Also feel free to e-mail the researcher at cjones28@towson.edu if you would like a one-on-one discussion in more depth about this project. Thanks for participating!